Homeland Security's Top CyberSec Post Filled by Lobbyist

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September 20, 2006

In a not unsurprising move, given what often seems like an incestuous relationship between government contractors and the Department of Homeland Security, the newly named chief of DHS' Cyber-Security is a lobbyist, yesterday's Washington Post reported.

The lobbyist, Greg Garcia, will have no trouble understanding the needs of information technology companies since his job has been to represent them for well over a half a decade.  But that's not the question we're concerned about--Will he represent the taxpayers' and the government's interests? 

According to lobbying disclosure forms at the Senate Office of Public Records, Garcia has worked for the Information Technology Association of America, the American Electronics Association, and 3Com.  Previously, he has also worked as a staffer for the House Science Subcommittee on Research, which may have helped him develop contacts which assisted his efforts as a lobbyist.

Authors: Nick Schwellenbach

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